BOULANGERIE PATISSERIE KNEAD
Without a doubt, and perhaps with a little chauvinism, this is the best bakery in Abu Dhabi.Read more
Without a doubt, and perhaps with a little chauvinism, this is the best bakery in Abu Dhabi.Read more
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In Abu Dhabi, working hours are very flexible, but let's just say that the day doesn't really start until 10 a.m., and the cafés are packed all day long. Here, the watchword is to take your time, and no one seems really stressed. You won't see anyone running, least of all the Emirati population. They often talk for hours on end, as if time were extensible, the men to each other, the women to each other, whether on weekdays or weekends. While there is no tradition of an "apéro", it's mainly at the end of the evening, after dinner and quite late, that groups of friends get together once again over tea and sometimes chicha. As for the expatriate population, they go out in the many hotel bars, quite late at night, and generally from Wednesday to Saturday inclusive. During Ramadan, the schedule changes. During the day, establishments are less busy, and most open after sunset and throughout the night.
Abu Dhabi is expensive, even for a coffee. Hotel bars are particularly expensive, as taxes on alcohol are very high. You can pay everywhere with a credit card and leave a tip of around 5-10%, although this is by no means obligatory.
Alcohol can only be consumed from the age of 21, and legislation is very strict. It is difficult to enter bars under this age. Please note, however, that it is forbidden to consume alcohol on public roads or in unregulated public spaces.
In mid-afternoon, Emirati friends and families gather in local cafés, hotel lobbies and shopping malls for tea, coffee and, above all, pastries. It's also popular to smoke a shisha as soon as the sun goes down. It's not uncommon to drink coffee until very late in the evening, as people don't go to bed early in the city. Remember that a large part of the population does not drink alcohol. Coffee and dates are an absolute must, and a sign of local hospitality.
Children are welcome everywhere except in the bars, and there will be no exceptions.